Tongs



April 21, 1931- L, F. BAAsH ET AL 1,801,257

TONGS Filed March 5l, 1930 Patented Apr. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE LAWRENCE F. BAASH, OF LOS ANGELES, AND WILLIAM H. MAXWELL, OFBEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA TONGS Application filed March 31, 1930. SerialNo. 440,269.

This invention relatesto tools for handling pipe, etc., and `relatesmore particularly to tongs for handling and gripping pipe and likeobjects.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide simple,practical, and effective tongs for handling pipe and the like.

It is another objectof the invention to provide tongs in which theactuating line or other means for turning or operatingthe tool may beemployed to directly operate a gripping aw into gripping engagement witha pipe orlike part engaged by the tool.

Y It isanother object of the invention to'provide tongs of the charactermentioned in which the operating line for operatingthe tongs and thegripping jaw extends fromthe outer end of the handle of the tool so thata substantial leverage is obtained for turn` ing the tool.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool of the charactermentioned that is extremely simple of construction and einbodies aminimum number of simple parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide tongs that are wellbalanced and easy to handle and operate and in which the parts foroperating the gripping jaw are encased and protected against injury.

It is a further object of the invention to provide tongs which embodymeans for automatically returning the gripping jaw to the retractedposition after actuation.

4 Other objects and features of our inven tion will be best and morefully understood from the following' detailed description of a typical:torni and application of the invention, throughout which descriptionreference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tongs provided by our presentinvention illustrating the tool engaging a pipe. Fig. 2 is a top or planview of the tongs. Fig. 3 is a horizontal detailed sectional view of thetool. Fig. 4

is `an enlarged horizontal detailed sectional view of the head portionof the tongs. Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse detailed sectional viewtaken as indicated by line 5 5 on Fig. 3.

The broader features of our invention are capable of embodiment intoolsV of various characters for handling various forms of objects.Throughout the following detailed disclosure we Will confine thedescription to one Simple forni of the invention intended for handlingcomparatively large pipe, etc. It is to be understood, however, that theinvention is not to be considered limited to the particular embodimentof the invention herein disclosed but is to be taken as including anymodiiications or variations that may fall within the scope of theclaims.

The tool provided by this invention includes, generally, a pipeencircling head 10, a gripping jaw 11 slidably carried by the head 10, ahandle 12 for the head 10, means 13 for operatingl the gripping jaw 11directly by an operating line L, or the like, and means la for returningthe gripping jaw 11 and the means 13 to the normal position afteractuation.

The head 10 is provided to encircle or receive a part such as a pipe Pand may include two principal or main parts, namely, a body 15 and agate 16. In the preferred embodiment of our invention the body 15 of thehead 10 carries the gripping jaw 11 and is provided with the operatinglever or handle 12. The bod 15 may be a single rigid part of substantialy U-shaped configuration. The body 15 may have two spaced side `parts 17and 18 between which there is a recess or opening 19. The opening 19 isprovided to slidably carry the gripping jaw 11 and its opposite sidewalls 2O are made parallel and Hat to slidably carry the gripping jaw11.

The gate 16 of the pipe encircling head 10 is in the nature of a closurefor the opening 19. The gate 16 is provided to extend around the pipe Pto retain it in position for engagement by the gripping jaw 11. The gate16 may be of any suitable construction and may be mounted on the body inany desired manner. In the case illustrated the gate 16 lis a simplerigid part pivotally mounted on gage orf seat against the pipe l?. Pipeengaging parts in the form or dies 23 may be Y arranged `inrecesses inthe inner side 22 of the gate to engage the pipe. y

I `rSuitable latch` means may be provided in connection with the gate 16for releasably holding the gate in the closed position. 1n

the particular form of the invention illus" trated in the drawings alatch 24 is. pivotally mounted at the outer or'freeend of the gate 16 tocooperate with a latch catch or lug 25 on the side part 18 of the body.rllhe latch 24 may be pivotally mounted in a recess 26 at the gate 16 bya pivot pin 27. The latch 24 and the lug are formed and related so thatthe latch automatically cooperates with the lugto releasably hold thegate in the closed position upon the gate being operated or swung to theclosed position. A spring 27aN may be provided to yieldingly hold thelatch in a position to cooperate vwith the lug 25 when thegate isclosed. rlhel latch may be provided with a handle 28 which may alsoserve as a handle for the gate.r

rlhe pipe gripping element or jaw 11 is slid- Y ably carried in theopening 19 of the body and is operable by the operating line through themeans 13 to grip the pipe l?. The gripping yjaw11 may be a unitary partand may be shaped to effectively operate in the opening 19. The jawy 11may have fiat parallel sides 29 to slidably operate on the walls 2O ofthe opening19. The pipe engaging end of the gripping jaw 11 ispreferably made concave or curved to eectively engage the pipe. Pipeengaging dies 30 may be seated in recesses in the active end of the jaw11 to engage or grip thepipe. i In accordance with the preerredormof'our invention means is provided'for resisting relative rotation betweenthe tool and the part being handled at'the start oit actuation or thelmeans 13.- In the case illustrated the means 'for initially resistingrotation between the'V tool and the'pipe is provided on the gripping jaw11 and includes a stem 31 slidably carried in the jaw 11v having itsouter end extending into a recess 32 in the active end of the grippingjaw and its inner end extending into a socket 33 in the rear end of thejaw 11. A block 34 is tiltably or pivotally mounted at the outer end ofthe stem 31 inthe recess 32. yThe bloclr34 is carried so thatwit is freeto tilt about an axis transverse of the stem 31.

ing "members 35. The members 35 may be provided with serrations or teethto grip the pipe l). A. spring 36 is provided in the recess 32 tonormally urge the members 35 into gripping engagement with the pipe P.The spring 36 may surround the stem 31 and may be arranged between thebottom of the recess 32 and the block 34.

The handle 12 is provided to facilitate the handling and operation ofthe tool and carries the means 13 for operating thev gripping jaw 11.The handle 12 is provided yon the body 15 of the head 10 and may beformed integral with the body. The handle 12 projects outwardly orrearwardly from the body 15 and is preferably made comparatively long.

`The means 13 is provided to operate the gripping jaw 11 by forceapplied to the operating line L for operatingV or turning ythe tool.rEhe means 13 is carried by the handle 12 and includes a rod 40 slidablycarried in a longitudinal opening 41 in the handle. The rod 40 extendscompletely through the opening 41 from one end to the other andhas itsinner en'd connected to the gripping jaw 11. rl`he inner end of the rod40 extends into the outer portion ofthe socket 33 and. may be set orlocked in the socket vby afpin 42er other suitable means. The outer endof the rod 40 projects into a transverse opening 43 in the outer portionof the handle 12. A block 44 is attached to the outer end of the rod 40.The block 44 is slidable in the opening 43 and car ries a pulley 45.rlfhe pulley 45 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 46 and may be mountedwithin a transverseopening47 in the block. rlhe pulley 45 is provided tocarry or pass Vthe operating line L. The'operating line L is attached orsecured to the operating handle 12 at a point inward ofY the pulley 45.

lThe line L .may be attached to the head in any suitable manner. 1n thecase illustrated a lug 48 is provided on one side of the hanf dle 12 andhas an opening 49 for passing the line. Theline L extends outwardly fromthe lug 48 and extends through the opening 47 to operate over the pulley45. The line L passes laterally from the pulley 45 and mayv be ,op-yerated in any suitable manner for operating or turning the tongs. Inaccordance .with the preferred embodiment of the invention a guide 50 isprovided on the block'44. The guide` 50 projects outwardly-from the.outer end of the block 44 and is slidable in an opening 51 in the outerend of the handle 12.

The means 14 is providedpto return the gripping jaw 11 and themeans 13to their positions after actuation. The means 14 may be in the nature ofspring means. The means 14 may include a spring 53 arranged to operatebetween the rod41 and the body 15. The spring 53 may be a helical springarranged in an enlargement 54 in the inner end of the opening 41.Thespring53 may surround the rod 40. One end of the spring 53 isattached to the rod 40 and the other end of the spring is attached tothe body 15. The end of the inner convolution of the spring 53 may seatin an opening in the rod 40 While the outer convolution of the springmay have its end extending into an opening in the walls ot theenlargement 54; Upon operation otthe rod 40 inwardly the spring 53 iselongated, and When the means 13 is reelased the spring acts. to returnthe jaw 1.1 and the rod 40 to their normal unactuated positions.

Means may be provided on the head 1G for suspending or carrying thetool. A suitable eye bolt 60 may project upwardlT from the upper side ofthe body 15 to'receive a susn pension line or the like for carrying thetongs.

It is believed that the operation of the tongs provided by our presentinvention Will be readily apparent from the foregoing de taileddescription. The gripping jaw 1l may be operatedinto secure gripping'engagement With the pipe P by operating the line L to urge the rod 4()inwardly. The line L may be employed tor turning or rotating the pipe asWell as for actuating' the gripping jaw 11. It

is to be particularly noted that provided by this invention areextremely simple of construction and embody but few parts. Further, theblock 44 and vthe various other parts of the means 13 are encased in thehandle 12 so that they are protected against injury. vThe means 13,being carried by the handle 12, operates to balance the pipe encirclinghead 10 of the tool so that the tongs are easy to handle and operate.The block 44 carrying the pulley 45 may be arranged in the outer portionof the handle 12 so that a substantial `leverage is obtained byoperating the line L for turning the tongs.

Having described only a typical preferred form of our invention, We donot Wish to limit ourselves to the specific details set forth but Wishto reserve to ourselves any changes or variations that may appear tothose slrilled inthe art or fall Within the scope of the tollowingclaims. V

Having described our invention, WeV claim:

the tongs 1. A tool of the character described including, a head, agripping element carried by the head, and means tor operating theelement by an operating line, including, a slidable rod, and a pulley onthe rod to be engaged by the line.

2. A tool of the character described invcluding, a head, a grippingelement carried by the head, and means for operating said element froman operating line for the tool including, a slidable rod connected tothe element, and a pulley carried by the rod for passing the line.

3. A tool ofthe character described including, a head, a grippingelement carried by the head, a handle extending from the head, and meansfor operating the element by an operating line for the tool including, arod connected to the element and slidably carried by the handle and apulley carried by the rod for passing the line.

n 4. A tool of the character described includried by the head, a handleextending from the head, and means for operating the element by anoperating line including, a rod connected to the element and slidable inan opening in the handle, and cuter end or the rod for passing the line.

5. A tool ot the character described including, a head, a. grippingelement carried by the head, a handle on the head, and means foroperating the element by an operating line including, a rod connected tothe element and slidable in an opening in the handle, and a pulleyrotatably carried in an opening in the rod for passing the line. i

6, A tool of the character described including, a head, a grippingelement carried by the head, a handle on the head, and means foroperating the element by an operating line including, a rod conected tothe element and slidable in an opening in the handle, a block on the rodslidable inthe handle and a pulley rotatably carried by the block forpassing the line.

7. Tongs including, a head,

a pipe gripping element carried by the head, a handle,

, and means :tor operating the element directly by an operating lineattached to the handle including, a rod attached to the element slidablein the handle, and a pulley carried by the rod in an opening in thehandle for passing the line.

8. Tongs including, a head, a pipe gripping element carried by the head,a handle, and means for operating the element directly by an operatingline attached to the handle including, a rod attached to the elementslidable in the handle, and a pulley carried by the rod `at a pointoutward of the point of attachment of the line with the iandle forpassing the line.

9. Tongs including, a head, apipe gripping element carried by the head,a handle, and means for operating the element directly by an operatingline attached to the handle including, a rod attached `to the elementslidable in the handle, a bloclr on. the rod slidable in an opening inthe handle outward of the point of attachment ofthe line to the handle,and a pulley rotatably carried in the block for passing the line.

10. Tongs of the character described including, a head, a grippingelement carried bythe head, a handle, means for operating the elementdirectly by a line for operating the tongs including, a rod attached tothe element slidably carried by the handle, and a rotatable pulley onthe rod for passing the line, and means for returning the element afteractuation.

11. Tongs of the character described in` ing, a head, a gripping elementslidably cari,

a pulley at the r. Y

cluding, a head, a gripping element carried by the head, a handle, meansfor operating the element directly by a linefor operating the tongsincluding, a rod attached to the element slidably carried by the handle,and a rotatable pulley on the rod for passing the line, and means forreturning the element after actuation, including a spring attached tothe head and the element. l

12. Tongs of the character described including, a head, a grippingelement carried by the head, a handle, means for operating the elementdirectly by a line for operating the tongs including, a rod attached totheV element slidably carried by the handle, and means for initiallyresisting relative rotation between the head and an object.

13. Tongs of the character described including, a head, a grippingelement. carried by the head, a handle, means for operating the elementdirectly by a line for operating cess, a gate pivoted to the bodyadapted to close the recess, a gripping jaw slidablerin the recess, ahandle on the body, and means for operating the aw by yan operating lineattached to the handle, including a rod slidably carried in the handle,and a rotatable pulley on the rod for passing the line.

Tn witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed `ournames this 14th day of March, 1930.

LAWRENCE F. BAASH. WTLLIAM H. MAXWELL.

the tongs including, alrod attached to the i element slidably carriedbythe handle, and means for'initially resisting relative rotationbetween the head and an object, including a spring pressed pipe.gripping member `carried by the head.

14. Tongs of the character described including, a pipe encircling head,a gripping element slidablyY carried by the head, a handle, means for'operating the element directly by a line for operating the tongsincluding, a rod attached to the `element slidnhlv carried by thehandle, and means to initially resisting relative rotation between thehead and an object, including a spring f pressed pipe gripping membercarried by the head, including a slidably and pivotally mounted pipeengagingmember on the lelement and a spring urging the member intoengagementv with the obj ect.

15. Tongs including, a pipe encircling head, including a body havingv anopening ing the line.

adapted to receive a pipe, and a gate adapted to close the opening, apipe gripping element carried by the head, a handle, and means foroperating the element directly by an operating line attached to thehandle in cluding, a rod attached to the element slidable in the handle,and Va pulley carried by the rod in an opening in the handle for pass-16.V Tongs including, a pipe encircling head, including a body having anopening adapted to the body adapted to close the opening, and a latchfor releasably holding the gate closed, a pipe gripping'element carriedby the head, a handle, and meansy for loperating the element directly byan operating line attached to the-handle including, a rod attached toAthe element Vslidable in the handlel and a pulleyv carried by the rodin an opening in thehandle for passing the line.

17. Tongs including, a body having a reg receive a pipe, a gate pivotedto

